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About RETA

About RETA

The Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA)

The Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA) is the most recognized organization in the country dedicated to the professional development of industrial refrigeration operators and technicians. Founded in 1910, RETA is a non-profit membership and certification organization currently based in Albany, OR.

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The Association

What is RETA?

The Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association (RETA), founded in 1910, is an international society of individuals and companies involved in the design, operation and service of industrial refrigeration systems. Its purpose is to provide education and training, as well as networking benefits, to both experienced operators and those who have recently entered this rapidly expanding field.

In what year was RETA established?

RETA was founded in 1910 as the National Association of Professional Refrigeration Engineers (NAPRE) — in the year following its first convention in 1909.

What is RETA’s structure as an association?

RETA is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors consisting of a Chairman, President, Executive Vice President, Vice President, and Treasurer, plus Directors and National Committee Chairs.

RETA’s structure provides for localized Chapters as well as members at-large (members located in a geographic location where a Chapter has not yet been established). RETA is managed by its HQ staff, headed by Jim Barron, Executive Director, and located in Albany, OR.

The exams were developed based on surveys of experienced industrial refrigeration operators, managers and consultants. They also are consistent with recommended training objectives established in the Ammonia Refrigeration Training Guideline (ARTG) document developed in 2005, an industry project sponsored by RETA, IIAR and IARW in which benchmarks were established with regard to industrial refrigeration operation.

What is ANSI and why is it important?

RETA certification exams are accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), which requires that they are continually scrutinized by an organization whose sole mission is to establish, maintain and assure that the highest industry standards are set and met in a continuous and ongoing basis.

ANSI is certainly recognized and often highly regarded by regulatory agencies such as EPA and OSHA in the establishment and maintenance of the highest industrial and safety benchmarks.

RETA’s ANSI accreditation assures to its members and industry that those who meet requirements to earn RETA credentials have met an established competence level to operate ammonia refrigeration systems in a safe and efficient manner.

RETA is the sole provider of ANSI-accredited certification
in industrial refrigeration in the world.

What certification programs does RETA offer?

RETA currently offers two levels of ANSI accredited certification

CARO – Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator

CARO is an entry-level credential that is designed to demonstrate that an operator has sufficient knowledge to work under supervision in industrial refrigeration.

There is no minimum experience requirement for CARO. The exam assesses mastery of concepts and principles in RETA’s Industrial Refrigeration I and the ammonia safety chapter in Industrial Refrigeration IV (chapter 7).

CARO includes 110 questions and allows three hours for completion.

CIRO – Certified Industrial Refrigeration Operator

CIRO requires documentation of at least two years of experience as a industrial refrigeration operator. It assesses more advanced concepts, principles and applications required to supervise industrial refrigeration operations.

The CIRO exam consists of 135 questions and allows three hours for completion.

Other RETA Credentialing Programs

RETA also provides certification for two additional programs that are not ANSI-accredited.

CRES — Certified Refrigeration Energy Specialist

CRES was added in November 2013 to assess mastery of refrigeration system operations and energy management strategies. While no other RETA credentials are required to qualify for the CRES credential, CRES candidates do need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of refrigeration operations to offer energy management strategies without compromising the safety or integrity of refrigeration systems.

CRES candidates should be familiar with the operating concepts and principles addressed in IR-1 in addition to energy management strategies and techniques in the Industrial Refrigeration Best Practices Guide published by Cascade Energy and the Energy Conservation Manual – Industrial Refrigeration Consortium published by University of Wisconsin.

The CRES exam consists of 135 questions and allows three hours for completion.

There is also a performance aspect related to CRES which includes the documentation of five energy management activities related to refrigeration system operations and their facilities whereby energy savings can be quantitatively documented.

Certification of CRES occurs after successful completion of the exam and documentation of five activities. Additional activities must be documented to maintain CRES certification.

RAI —RETA Authorized Instructor

This exam is designed to assess mastery of advanced refrigeration system concepts and operations at a level that qualifies a candidate to assist CARO, CIRO and CRES candidates with their preparations and activities required to earn RETA credentials.

RAI candidates must demonstrate both teaching experience and knowledge of the content in all RETA publications that are designed to prepare operators and others to meet RETA certification requirements.

The RAI exam consists of 85 questions and allows three hours for completion.

Credentialing FAQs

How long is my certification valid?

For all RETA certification programs, certification is valid for three years from test passage date or date of last three-year renewal cycle.

How do I renew my certification? What are certification renewal requirements?

RETA certification holders are notified of renewal requirements within one year of renewal date.
Documentation of 24 Professional Development Hours (PDH) or 2.4 Continuing Education Units (CEU) is required to renew certification. (It is the certified individuals responsibility to collect and submit required documentation to RETA HQ.)
A published list of many acceptable training activities is available from the RETA website, Appendix 500A-PDH Table.

Examples include:

PDH earned at the annual RETA national Conference.
PDH earned by attending monthly Chapter meetings.
PDH earned by attending a Safety Day.
Most any documented training or schooling that can be shown to relate to industrial refrigeration is acceptable.

There is a fee required at the time of renewal.
Once reviewed and approved at RETA HQ, a new certificate and membership card reflecting updated certification (and expiration date) is issued.

How do I apply to take RETA certification exams?

All RETA certification candidates must begin by submitting a completed certification application to RETA HQ with payment.
After review and approval by RETA, an email notification is issued to the candidate with directions for completing any steps needed to qualify to take the required examination.
A study copy of the examination supplement that includes information that will be required during a test can be downloaded from the RETA website.
Candidates are encouraged to use the required supplement and other test preparation materials on the RETA website to help them prepare for an exam.
After a candidate has met all eligibility requirements and has scheduled an exam, RETA will provide a sealed, secure copy of the appropriate supplement that can only be opened at a RETA-approved test center on the day of a test.

RETA Certification Practice Tests.

RETA offers CARO and CIRO candidates online access to 50-question practice tests that cover the same content areas that are in the full CARO and CIRO examinations.Click here to access the CARO and CIRO practice exams.
From the link, a candidate may enter existing account information or create a new account to schedule the RETA CARO or CIRO practice exams for a fee.
Practice exam score reports provide direct feedback to reference materials for further study.
In recent years, 86% of RETA candidates who completed both the appropriate practice test and the full RETA certification examination have earned a RETA credential.

Online Training

Learn at your own pace in the convenience of your home or office — the highest training standards in the industry are now available to you online!

Why choose online training?
What modules are available?
What does it cost?